Blue Ridge Mountain-View Vineyards to Visit This October

For a fall tasting with the Blue Ridge as your backdrop, two estate vineyards on the mountain side of the Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley are worth a Saturday: DuCard Vineyards in Etlan, which borders Shenandoah National Park, and Brix & Columns Vineyards in McGaheysville, a 160-acre estate with a Jeffersonian tasting room. Both are open daily in October, with listed hours, so you can plan around the light.

Quick Facts

• DuCard Vineyards: 40 Gibson Hollow Ln, Etlan, VA 22719; Google rating 4.6; open daily, noon to 5 or 6 PM depending on the day.
• Brix & Columns Vineyards: 1501 Dave Berry Rd, McGaheysville, VA 22840; Google rating 4.7; flights of five for $16 to $20; outside food welcome.
• Season: October 2026, peak color along the Blue Ridge.

DuCard Vineyards, Etlan

DuCard is described as an award-winning vineyard bordering Shenandoah National Park, and the setting is the draw: vineyard views, a picnic area, and a pet-friendly policy make it an easy, unfussy afternoon. The listed offerings include wine tasting, wine sales, and live music events, so it is worth checking the website for a performance on the day you plan to go.

Hours are consistent and generous. Friday through Sunday the vineyard is open noon to 6 PM, and Monday through Thursday noon to 5 PM. That makes a weekday visit realistic for anyone avoiding the weekend crowd.

One note on freshness: the vineyard has not posted recently on the channels we monitor, so confirm hours by phone or on its website before driving out.

Brix & Columns Vineyards, McGaheysville

Brix & Columns is an estate winery on 160 acres near Harrisonburg, with mountain views, award-winning wines, and a tasting room in the Jeffersonian style. Tastings are flights of five for $16 to $20, and wine is also poured by the glass and bottle.

The practical details suit fall. There is an outdoor patio with a fireplace, a vineyard walking path, and canopy rentals for shade or cover. Picnics are welcome, and outside food is allowed, so you can bring a lunch and buy a bottle to open on the lawn. The winery is dog-friendly and family-friendly, and it offers a Foundation Club wine membership and online shipping for anyone who wants to take the experience home.

The listed hours vary by day:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11 AM to 6 PM
• Friday: 11 AM to 9 PM
• Saturday: 11 AM to 5 PM
• Sunday: 12 PM to 6 PM

Pairing the Day with the Mountain

If you are tasting in Madison County, the ridgetop drive along Skyline Drive runs through the central district of Shenandoah National Park alongside the county's edge, and it is a natural complement to an afternoon at DuCard. Treat the two as separate outings rather than a single tight itinerary, since distances between them are not something we can confirm here.

Planning Your Visit

DuCard Vineyards

• Address: 40 Gibson Hollow Ln, Etlan, VA 22719
• Phone: (540) 923-4206
• Website: ducardvineyards.com
• Hours: Monday to Thursday 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM; Friday to Sunday 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Brix & Columns Vineyards

• Address: 1501 Dave Berry Rd, McGaheysville, VA 22840
• Phone: (540) 810-0566
• Website: brixandcolumns.com
• Hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Friday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Saturday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Sunday 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Both venues appear to have been quiet on social media in recent months, so a quick call before you go is a sensible courtesy.